Meloni government sets postwar longevity record

Giorgia Meloni's hard-right government on Friday became the longest-lasting in Italy's postwar history, surpassing the record set by Silvio Berlusconi between 2001 and 2005, according to France 24. The government has now been in power for 1,413 days, a notable achievement in a country that has seen 68 governments in the last 80 years.

When she took office in 2022, many European allies viewed Meloni with unease given her party's neo-fascist roots, France 24 reported. Yet she has governed pragmatically, working within EU institutions and maintaining a pro-NATO stance, which has reassured international partners while complicating her domestic political position.

The longevity record comes as Italy approaches elections next year, and analysts quoted by France 24 attribute Meloni's success to a combination of '50% savvy political tactics, 50% extraordinarily good luck.' The challenges ahead, however, include a rising far-right challenger and the need to balance her coalition's internal tensions.